Wider Opportunities at Laneshaw Bridge School

At Laneshaw Bridge School, we are committed to providing a rich and varied curriculum that develops the whole child. Through a wide range of experiences, opportunities and partnerships, we aim to broaden children's horizons, develop their talents and interests, and prepare them for future success.

Quest School

Laneshaw Bridge School is proud to be a Quest School, embracing the work of childhood advocate and author Greg Bottrill. The Quest is an ambitious approach that seeks to reclaim childhood through play, imagination, creativity and storytelling.

Inspired by Greg's vision of journeying into "the Kingdom of Play", we believe that play remains a vital part of childhood and should continue to be valued throughout a child's development.

Our children take part in Inventuring Days and Dreaming Tree Days, where pupils of all ages collaborate through imaginative play, storytelling, language development, creativity, mark-making and problem-solving. These experiences encourage curiosity, innovation and a love of learning while supporting children's communication and social development.

Music Tuition

We recognise the important role music plays in children's personal and creative development.

Pupils have opportunities to learn musical instruments and develop their musical understanding through specialist peripatetic music teachers from Front Row Music. These opportunities help children develop confidence, performance skills, musical appreciation and the ability to read and perform music.

Clubs and Extra-Curricular Activities

We offer a wide range of clubs and activities that enrich children's experiences beyond the school day and encourage them to discover new interests and talents.

Opportunities may include:

• Coding Club
• Community Collaboration Projects
• Chit Chatters
• Ballet and Street Dance
• Times Tables Rock Stars Club
• Cross Country
• Netball
• Choir
• Nurture Club
• Wild Woodland and Forest School
• Pottery
• Crochet
• Book Clubs
• Science Club
• Archery
• Yoga
• Gardening Club
• First Aid Club and First Aid Ambassadors
• Reading Cafés
• APEX Sporting Events and Competitions

These clubs support personal development, promote healthy lifestyles, build confidence and encourage children to develop friendships across the school community.

Where clubs are oversubscribed, priority consideration may be given to disadvantaged pupils to ensure equitable access to enrichment opportunities.

Intergenerational Collaboration

We value the important relationships that can be developed across generations.

Our pupils regularly spend time with older members of the community through organised visits and activities. These opportunities support the development of speech, language and communication skills while helping children build confidence and meaningful relationships.

Throughout the year, community members are invited into school to participate in special events, including Christmas celebrations, lunches and carol singing. These experiences help strengthen community connections and foster mutual respect and understanding.

Growing Gardeners

We are fortunate to have an on-site polytunnel, allowing children to gain hands-on experience of planting, growing and caring for fruit and vegetables.

Our Growing Gardeners and Gardening Ambassadors work alongside parent volunteers to learn about sustainability, food production and environmental responsibility. They also contribute to community projects, including supporting Laneshaw Bridge in Bloom, helping to develop pride in their local area.

Educational Visits and Residential Experiences

We believe educational visits play an important role in enhancing and enriching learning.

Throughout their time at Laneshaw Bridge, pupils participate in a wide range of visits linked closely to their curriculum learning. These include:

• Museums
• Galleries
• Theatres
• Historic sites
• Outdoor learning centres
• Residential experiences

Our residential programme includes outdoor adventure centres as well as opportunities for older pupils to visit London and Paris.

These experiences help develop pupils' cultural capital, broaden their understanding of the world and create memorable learning opportunities that bring the curriculum to life.

Library Visits

We are passionate about developing a lifelong love of reading.

Pupils regularly visit the local library and benefit from visits from the mobile library service. These experiences encourage children to explore a wide range of books, develop their reading habits and understand the value of libraries as community resources.

Through these opportunities, children discover the enjoyment of reading while developing the knowledge and skills needed to become confident and enthusiastic readers.

Staff Collaboration

Professional development is central to ensuring the best outcomes for our pupils.

APEX Learning Communities bring together staff from the same year groups across the trust to share expertise, exchange resources and develop outstanding practice. Alongside APEX Primary Staff Meetings, these collaborative opportunities strengthen professional learning, promote consistency and support continuous improvement across all APEX schools.